Spike.



G: M. BROX & H. S. KNIGHT.

SPIKE,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1913.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTE.

GEORGE M. BROX AND HOWARD S. KNIGHT, OF MILFORD, NEBRASKA.

SPIKE.

messes.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that we. Gannon M. Baox and Howaan S. Kmcn'r, citizens of the United States, residing at Wilford, in the county of Seward and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

Our present invention pertains to spikes, and more particularly to spikes designed to be driven into wood with a view to securing railroad rails and other objects thereto.

The object of our invention is to rovide a spike for use in wood, constructed 1n such manner that the cost of producing the spike is not materially increased, and yet the spike is adapted through the medium of an ordinary nail to be securely locked or anchored in the wood.

"With the foregoing in mind the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a )erspective showing our novel spike with tie anchoring nail properly positioned therein. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the nail per 86.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

T he improved spike comprises a shank 1,

and a head 2, which may be and preferably are of the conventional configuration, though they may be of any other suitable shape compatible with our invention without departure from the scope of the same as claimed. The head 2 overhangs at least one side of the shank 1, as indicated by 2 in Figs. 1 and 2. In furtherance of our invention, there is formed in the said overhanging portion 2" of the head 2 and in the adjacent side of the shank a vertical kerf 3. This kerf 3 is straight and extends from the up per side of the head 2 to a oint adjacent the lower end of the shank. 1 t the latter point the kerf merges into and communicates with one end of a downwardly inclined bore 4 which extends transversely through the shank to the opposite side thereof.

As will be readily appreciated the portion of the kerf in the overhangin head portion 2* is much deeper than the ahned or registered portion of the kerf in the side of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 24, 1813.

Patented Aug. 11, 191%.

Serial No. 769,686.

the shank; and it will also be appreciated that the said kerf can be so readily formed in the spike as not to materially or in fact appreciably increase the cost of producing the spike. It will also be noted here that the upper portion of the said kerf 3 extends inwardly into the main portion of the head 2-i. 0., the head portion, that is aliued with the shank.

In using the spike described the same is driven home in a. sleeper or tic or other body of wood. \Vith this done a headed nail 6 is driven down through the kerf 3 of the spike until the head 7 of the nail brings up against the upper side of the spike head 2. When the nail is thus driven it will be guided by the kerf 3 to that end of the transverse bore or passage 4 in registration with said kerf, and hence the lower portion of the nail will be caused to pass through the bore or passage 4 and to project from the side of the spike opposite to that in which the kerf 3 is formed. It will also be observed that by reason of the point of the nail contacting with the bottom wall of the bore 4, the portion of the nail that protrudes from the side of the spike shank will be directed outwardly and upwardly from the shank. By virtue of this the said end portion of the nail will securely anchor the spike in the wooden body and will efi'ectually prevent casual loosening or outward working of the spike, and in this the said end portion of the nail will be materially assisted by the superposing of the nail head 7 on the spike head 2.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing that after the spike has been driven until its head 2 brings up against the wooden body, the kerf formed in the overhanging portion of the spike head and in the major portion of the head will enable the operator to expeditiously and easily guide the point of the nail into registration with the upper end of the korf portion that is formed in the spike shank, and by reason of this the accurate driving of the nail is facilitated.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure. by Letters-Pat.- out, is:

The herein described spike, consisting essentially of a shank and a head integral with the shank and having a portion that overhangs one side of the shank and is rovided with an underside disposed at a right angle to the shank, the shank having a transverse bore, et lnn intermediate point in its length and also having a vertical kerf in its said side, of even depth throughout its length, registered and communicating with the bore nt one end thereof andvextending from the bore t0 the inner side of the extended portion of the head, and the head having 11 vertical kerf that extends throughout the height of its overhanging portion, said kerf extending into the major portion of the head and'having its inner portion in GEORGE M. BROX. HO'WARD S. KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

Cnms SUMMERS, M. E. LLNDEMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

